MARCH 5TH SACRAMENTO RALLY!!!! comments from Sunny Dawn

Yesterday I was able to go to the Capitol and March with UESF.  I got up at the wee hours of the morning to get on a bus with UESF/EDU teachers/activists/students from SF Community College.  The day was organized by Occupy Education and teachers/students came from all over the state.  On the way there we were advised to write down the phone number of a legal aid for those arrested on our body (which I did).

Once at the Capital it was extremely heavy with college students and no wonder CSU fees have gone up 200% in 2 years and UC fees have gone up 130%! Teachers were present as well as we are facing another year of job insecurity and government excuses as to why we have to do more with less and/or take a pay cut or lose our jobs!

There was a 5 block March that ended in the Capital, many speeches including from Gavin Newsom.
Later there was a historic moment of over 300 people occupying the retunda of the Capital building and holding an Occupy style movement "general assembly".  At this assembly that lasted over 3 hours demands were come up with.... (I will post later).  Gavin Newsom at 1 point tried to address the Occupy movement in the retunda but was shouted off the floor. He was extremely upset about that see video of his comments on that at this Youtube site.  I followed him to see his reaction and videotaped his comments.

Gavin Newsom's Reaction to Occupy Videohttp://youtu.be/5TXdxwPK

Later as the evening was approaching a huge Police state enforced the 5 p.m. closing and 6 p.m. clearing and many teachers/students were arrested.

I felt very unsafe during this evening time with amount of intense police force all around us.  I have been to many protests and the air of possible riots was there and it was very tense.  I have to say I got on the bus heading back to S.F. in order to not get arrested.

There are people still in jail right now because of police agitation and a mandatory 3 day sentence that Sacramento employs.

More Posts to come....

In Solidarity,

Sunny Dawn
Parent/Teacher/Student Activist
San Francisco, CA.